Vehicle-axle.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

J. & P. GHANEY.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1904.

NITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

ATENT' FFICE,

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No.

781,631, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed May 12, 1904. Serial No. 207,667.

To all wit/mt it may concern.-

Be it known that we, James Cnaxnr and Pants CHANEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Laclede and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Axle, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to vehicle-axles, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character in which the usual bolster-spring and fifthwheel are dispensed with and one in which the wheel-spindles when impaired by wear may be readily detached and replaced by new ones.

\Yith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a rear perspective view of an axle embodying this invention, showing a portion of a reachbeam attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the axle. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates our improved axle, in whichZ is a lower base plate or member, and3an upper plate or arch member which in practice lies in parallel relation with and is spaced vertically above the base member. The base member is composed, preferably, from bar or strap metal andhas upon its upper face at its longitudinal center a bearing-block 4, preferably integral, while the arch member 3 is likewise composed from strap or bar metal bent or otherwise shaped to produce a central upwardly extending arched portion 5, provided at its longitudinal center upon its lower face with an integral bearing-block 6, disposed in vertical alinement with the block a, said arch being provided upon its upper face above the bearing 6 with an upward projection or enlargement forming a bearing 7, having a smooth horizontal bearing-face.

8 8 designate removable axle-sections or spindle members normally disposed and clamped between the platesQand 23in parallel relation therewith. These sections are preferably in the form of metal bars of rectangular form in cross-section seated between and l l l projecting beyond the outer ends of plates 2 and 3, the projecting ends of the sections being shaped to form or otherwise provided with spindles 9, while the inner ends of the sections terminate adjacent to the terminals of the arched portion Applied around the axle beyond the central arch are clip-bolts 10 or other suitable clamping devices operable for securely clamping the spindle members 8 between the plates 2 and 3, the latter being provided upon their inner faces with studs or projections 11, designed to seat in coincident sockets 12 in the members 8 for preventinglateral or longitudinal displacement of the latter.

13 is a bolster of the usual or any preferred construction seated upon the central bearing T and pivoted to the axle, as usual, by a kingbolt 14:, which extends vertically and centrally downward through said parts and the rear end of the reach-beam 15. The beam 15, which has bearing between blocks 4 and 6, has a vertical bolt-receiving opening in which is disposed a wearing sleeve or thimble 16, through which the king-bolt passes and which projects slightly above and below the beam, whereby when the bolt is operated for clamping the parts the thimblewill be held against rotation to permit the beams to turn thereon, thus entirely relieving the bolt from wear and causing the latter to fall wholly upon the outer face of the thimble.

The bolt l i is in threaded engagement with the base plate or member 2 and is provided with a supplemental head or enlargement 17, which in practice bears upon the upper face of arch 5, whereby the bolt may be manipulated for applying the proper tension upon the arch without atl'ecting the free rotation of the bolster.

Extending between the ends of clip-bolts 10 are clamping or connecting plates 18, retained in place by nuts 19, tapped onto the ends of the bolts. Disposed between the outer faces of the plates 18 and nuts 19 areloclting members or plates 20, which serve as washers and after the nuts have been tightened have their ends bent outward at right angles to engage the side faces of the nuts, and thus lock the latter against accidental rotation.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the arch 5 will subserve the functions of the usual bolster-spring to the extent of supporting the bolster an appropriate distance above the axle proper and that there will be sufficient relative movement between the axle and reachbeam to render a fifth-wheel unnecessary. It is also obvious that when the spindles become worn or otherwise impaired they may be readily replaced by new ones and that the width or gage between the wheels transversely may be readily varied by adjusting the spindlesectionslongitudinally,thereby permitting the vehicle to be readily changed from standard to narrow gage. In attaining these ends it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein set forth, inasmuch as minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. In an axle, the combination with a base plate or member, of an upper plate or member spaced therefrom and having an upwardly-arched portion, removable spindlesections disposed between the members and having spindles extending beyond the same, a reach-beam disposed between the members beneath the arch, a bolster having bearing l above the arch, and a king-bolt connecting l said parts, said bolt having a supplemental head or enlargement engaging the arched portion of the upper member.

2. In an axle, the combination with a base plate or member, of an upper plate or member spaced therefrom and having an upwardly-arched portion, removable spindlesections disposed between the members and having spindles extending beyond the same, a reach-beam disposed between the members beneath the arch, a bolster having bearing above the arch, a king-bolt connecting said parts, and a wearing-thimble surrounding the bolt and extending through the reach-beam with its ends bearing upon the inner faces of the members, said bolt being operable for clamping the parts and having a supplemental head or enlargement engaging the arched portion of the upper member.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CHAN EY. PARIS CHANEY.

\Vitnesses:

E. B. IiELLERMAN, J. O. POND. 

